It took ten long days to wait the nightmare out. Nathan visited daily for the first five when Gemma asked him not to come around anymore. Her bruises were turning nastier, but he estimated that her overall condition had improved. She didn't have to explain why she wanted him to stay away. The house was in a constant state of flux. Six pairs of hands worked meticulously at stripping down the place of everything apart from the wallpapers. Any and all possessions were put in crates upon crates that were sent off every morning.
Even though the healer stopped visiting, the guard duty never ceased. Since the peacekeepers were turned away on the first day, they kept continuous watch on the house paying special attention to the second window from the left on the first floor. Nathan had come up with a signal in case Gemma needed help but couldn't get out of the house.
All but one witnessed what was going on. The Monterrey's were leaving Four Corners for good. The hotel had been sold on the day that Gemma was brutally beaten for all the town to see, but the news only came out a week later. The lawmen were going to make sure that wherever the scum that had hurt her were slithering off, they weren't taking Gemma with them.
Only the town gambler was spared the display. The leader of the seven had let Vin Tanner speak to him out of compassion. Chris knew that he would take it badly and feared pushing the guilt-ridden man over the brink. Ezra Standish had thankfully missed the consequences of their night together to Gemma, but it was apparent to all he blamed himself. To everyone's surprise, Nathan took to speaking to him daily about Gemma's progress and in the process managed to dissuade him from taking up any guard duties at the house. The town was abuzz with gossip and the more the rumour mill churned, the more the seven pulled back into themselves. Each of them carried regret at not stopping the vicious attack or being able to do more now.
On the tenth day, the red and white gilded carriage swayed as Montgomery Monterrey Senior and Junior got on followed by the loyal valet who took the shotgun seat. Nathan was partnered with JD after it was decided that Buck and the kid were likely to do something reckless. JD became jumpy the moment the carriage was out of sight and the town healer struggled to keep him put.
"What if we didn't see her? What if they took her with them? What if..."
"Leave it, JD."
Nathan was confident enough that Gemma was still in the house. From time to time a shadow showed at the window of her room and he assumed she was gathering the courage to come out.
It was three hours later and half an hour before the end of their wacth when the door finally opened. It was hard to recognise the young woman who came out of the house. It had to be Gemma because her height and physique were the same, but she bore no resemblance to the glorious lady that had delivered the Harvest dance only ten days previous. She was wearing a dull brown dress and looked small and drained. The woman walked with effort towards them clutching at something at her chest. It took excruciatingly long for her to reach them even in Nathan's mind. He sighed with relief when it was clear she was coming up to speak to them.
"I'm going to walk into town, gentlemen. Please..." she had more to say but her voice gave out. She kept her eyes on the ground in front of her and waited for their reply.
JD whistled in thought. He obviously didn't think he should let her do that but a look from Nathan stopped him from speaking. There was a long silence as the healer looked for appropriate words. He wanted to offer her his horse, seeing how weak she seemed but he wasn't sure she would be strong enough to manage the ride either.
"our watch ends in half an hour. If you feel unwell sit tight and we'll pick you up on the way back."
"Thank you," the young woman pressed honest emotion into the words and walked on. JD had the sense not to run off with his mouth until she was out of earshot.
When Gemma entered the church, the late afternoon sun was warming the wooden interior with comfort. She walked all the way up to the first pew and sat down exhausted. She'd walked to town in oblivion driven only by the goal of getting to church. This was the only place that she knew welcomed women like her: shamed, abandoned, lost. She didn't think of Josiah's loving presence in the church or the cold licks of forked tongues revved into action by her presence in town. All she thought about was putting one foot in front of the other. It was a challenging task and all that was left inside her was focused on executing it.
The town preacher saw her walk down the main street from the roof and came down to prepare to meet her. His head was still pounding from days of drinking away his regret at suggesting the dance in the first place. But the seven men were good at keeping each other on the right side of the bottle. His night was two nights ago. Tonight would probably be Chris again. The big man inhaled deeply and reminded himself that this was not about him. He prayed for the courage of dealing with his guilt alone. He didn't want to burden Gemma with alleviating it. He should be the one to take on her troubles not the other way around.
When he stepped into the nave, Gemma opened her eyes and smiled. He should have been pleased but the action gripped his heart. He prayed again silently for strength. He walked towards his friend slowly and couldn't resist kissing the top of her head. Finally, he sat down on the step across from her and picked up a stool he'd been working on to occupy his hands. He sanded the top slowly giving Gemma time to relax.
The young woman sighed often and blinked trying to control the tears that were running down her face regardless. Eventually she found her voice.
"For the first time I had some leverage, Josiah. A bargaining chip. A way to get my own way."
"Men always have it all. The money. The power. The say. What they can't talk out of you they pay for. What they can't pay for they beat out of you."
Josiah took his time to answer in case she wasn't finished.
"That's not leverage. That's use of force," he reasoned. He didn't look up to her too often so that she could speak more freely.
"I wanted to win for once. I wanted to have power. And exert force. The only power I ever had was to leave. And what if I wanted to see the proof of my victory? What if I wanted to enjoy it?"
Josiah wasn't sure what she was referring to, so he held on to words that worried him.
"Are you thinking of leaving now, sister?"
Gemma closed her eyes and more tears ran out.
"I can't. I can't even do that. They took my horse," she said with a bitter laugh. "Property acquired in marriage.
"Did you like the animal?"
"What difference does it make?"
She started pacing now. "Just another way for them to win. To show their leverage," she grimaced.
Gemma stopped at the church window and stared out for a long time. Josiah didn't want to disturb her. He picked up a Bible and focused on the word of God to give her time and space. He looked up at her when she sighed deeply and caught a familiar red of the town gamblers coat through the window. Gemma turned away and sat back in the pew. Her eyes were fixed on the cross behind the altar.
"Are we sure Jesus wasn't a woman, Josiah?"
Josiah snorted in amusement but didn't respond in case the young woman was leading her train of thought to a more serious topic.
"He went around healing and caring for people and got himself crucified for his trouble. Sounds like a day in the life."
"Are you comparing yourself to Jesus Christ, sister Gemma?"
Gemma smiled shyly and looked at her hands.
"No, Josiah. I'm comparing Jesus to all women. It can feel like you're always put on the cross for one thing or another."
"I never thought of it like that," Josiah entertained her idea.
"Well..." she finished. You're not a woman, she left hang in the air.
"Sister Gemma, night is coming. If you haven't got somewhere, let me set up a place for you in the back. You'll be warm and sheltered and I'll keep you safe from out here."
Gemma looked up at him with renewed concern, panic evident in her eyes.
"I never thought of that," she admitted. "All I've been thinking about is if there was a place for me in this town. But I didn't actually think of…"
"Many will be happier than they'll ever be able to admit to see you stay with us. As for a place you were thinking about, each man must carve that out on his own… Or her own."
"Is that what you're doing here Josiah," Gemma let her eyes wander around the church. "Carving up your own place?"
Josiah smiled more confidently now. Gemma might come out of this alright. "I guess I am."
"Come. I'll show you to your room."
Gemma didn't move at his words. Instead, she gave another deep sigh.
"You are a true man of God, Josiah. But I think..."
Josiah looked down on her troubled face kindly. He was trying to encourage a right decision.
"I guess I best keep it in the family."
Gemma's face shifted from fear to resignation. Her decision was made.
"Shall I accompany you?"
"Thank you, Josiah. But I know what to do."
The young woman rose up and pressed the preacher's hand.
"Out of interest, sister Gemma," he dared. "What do you want to do?"
Gemma raised an eyebrow at the timing of his question. Her thoughts blurted out before she could turn them into a joke.
"I wish for so many things, Josiah. And then they get taken away."
Gemma gave him another squeeze of the hand and a distant smile in lieu of goodbye. When she exited her back was tall, her shoulders squared and her head high. Josiah let his gaze follow her until she reached the door of The Clarion and walked inside.
